Old Bay Bridge Demolition

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The first phase of the demolition process involved cutting the cantilever section at its center and then dismantling both sides.

Before the demolition team cut through the cantilever and separated its two halves, preparations were made to reduce structural tension and pull the suspended span on each end toward the rest of the bridge. Without these precautions, the two halves would have collapsed and fallen into the water below.

Crews also demolished the temporary bypass known as the S-Curve. This section of the original span along was cleared first in order to allow contractors to complete the bicycle and pedestrian path and to construct the permanent eastbound on-ramp from Yerba Buena Island.

Cantilever Demolition Video

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Details

What: Dismantling and removal of half mile span cantilever truss of the old east span of the Bay Bridge

When: November 5, 2013 - June 11, 2015 (COMPLETED)

Where: San Francisco Bay Bridge, Old East Span

Why: Continued work to dismantle the old East Span

How: Dismantled piece-by-piece, in near reverse order of the way it was erected some 80 years ago.